Genius Brain Hacks

12 Genius Brain Hacks your Grey Matter Needs

Your brain is a marvellous thing, but if it’s anything like ours, it could use a helping hand every once in a while. Usually on a Monday, but frankly any day at around about 3pm. With that in mind, we’ve collected the best brain hacks and mental tricks to give your grey matter a boost. Use these and you’ll be more productive and confident. Mind = blown.

Productivity Hacks

Exercise your mind

Instead of reaching for coffee first thing in the morning or an energy drink to fire up your productivity, try something a lot better for you, something that will keep you more productive for longer. Begin the day with a run, a bike ride or some yoga. Exercise floods the brain with endorphins which as well as making you feel good also makes you more alert.

Hit the water

Keep hydrated with water rather than coffee. Your brain needs fluid to function productively and water is the best. If you need caffeine, make sure you also drink double the amount of water throughout the day.

Limit distractions

We’re led to believe that multi-tasking is the Holy Grail. The truth is that it's like trying to walk in multiple directions at the same time. To be truly productive turn off all distractions — yes, that includes Minecraft — and focus on one thing at a time.

Sleep on the job

When you need it, take a short nap rather than pushing on through with extra doses of caffeine. If you really need to, drink a coffee before a 20-minute nap: the caffeine will take that long to have its effect and you’ll feel doubly alert when your alarm goes off.

Make a list – in advance

For the uber-organised, make a list of tomorrow’s tasks before going to bed so that you’re not wasting time in the morning. Rather than making you nervous of the several dozen things you've noted down, this helps you feel in control.

Work against the clock

If you’re a procrastinator, decide on which task really needs to get done (usually the one you’ve been avoiding). Set your timer for 10 minutes and get started. You’ll be amazed at what you can get done when you know you can stop in 10 minutes. I’ve even written this in two-minute bursts.

Memory Hacks

Repeat, repeat, repeat

Your memory is a muscle that we need to exercise. You simply need to find the right way to work it. Say you’re at a party or networking and people are being introduced to you. Try these two hacks to remember their names: When you’re introduced to someone, take a moment to look at them, make eye contact and repeat their name back in conversation, introduce them to others reinforcing their name in your mind. Or, if you’re a visual thinker, imagine their name written on their forehead. Yes, it sounds crazy but it works for me.

Make it random

One of our biggest issues around memory is keeping track of the huge number of passwords we have. Assuming you don't want everything hacked, these should be stored in our heads not on our phones but that’s easier said than done. Here’s an easy strategy that I’ve been using for years. Think of two totally unconnected words as a base password — purple Buddha, awesome elephant, three caravans. Next, use the first letter of the website name followed by a number. So, your password for your online banking becomes purplebuddhaB1 or for your Apple iTunes account purplebuddhaA1 or your PayPal account purplebuddhaPP1. Easy. You’ll never have to write them down again.

Sense the answer

Our five senses are assets when it comes to memory. How often are you reminded of someone when you smell a certain perfume? Or you have memories from a holiday because of a song? Or the taste of cinnamon reminds you of your grandmother’s apple pie? The more of your senses you can use to remember something the easier you will recall it. You brain will make stronger connections if you can see, touch, hear, taste and smell what you want to remember. Get creating a sensory picture. Note: that doesn't necessarily mean getting a strong whiff of a contact's aftershave at a networking event.

Confidence Hacks

Strike a pose

Even if you’re generally confident, there are always times when you could use a little more presence. First, puff out your chest – quite literally. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows us that by “power posing” we can quickly improve our confidence. It works by increasing testosterone and reducing cortisol (a stress hormone) in our brains. Stand in a confident pose, hands on hips. Doing this for two minutes impacts how we feel and act. And studies have shown an increase in self-confidence as a result.

Talk to yourself (nicely)

How you talk to yourself matters. By changing your internal dialogue you can boost your confidence. Do you find yourself saying, “I can’t, I never, I'm not…”? Flip it, because that negativity sticks. Put a more positive spin on things: “I’m learning to…, I can…, I’m always able to…” These are like doing the power pose with your language. Using both together can have a profound positive effect on your confidence.

Go back in time

You’ve got a big presentation coming up and you’re nervous. You know your stuff but you’ve got those exam-morning nerves. Here’s a simple way to work the verbal and body language together. Ask yourself how you want to feel as you stand up to give the presentation. I’m guessing, at ease, confident and intelligent. So, think of a time when you’ve felt at ease, confident and intelligent and spend some time remembering that occasion. The stronger you can recall the details the more powerful and confident you’ll feel when you need to recall them. Works every time.